Around the Moon & Back to Earth

Like a lot of people, I was glued to the TV to watch the Artemis II liftoff, then watching the astronauts completing their chores (while that jar of Nutella floated by them; glad they had some treats way out there in space). Most thrilling of all   was watching the safe return and splash down near San Diego after their long trip around the moon. That was certainly the longest trip from Florida to California   that anyone has ever taken.

Like most people too, I enjoyed watching good news for a change, even though my mind kept playing that line from “The Eve of Destruction” which goes: “You may leave here for four days in space but when you return it’s the same old place.” Ain’t that the truth! The lyrics to this gloom-and-doom hit from 60 years ago sadly seem even more relevant in our world now.

 All the more reason to celebrate good news, with the added realization that bad news about a space flight is always a possibility. How brave, intelligent, and calm an astronaut has to be. And how precise and perfect all the plans have to be. As a confirmed claustrophobic, I am amazed that there are people who can carry out such demanding missions in such a confined space for long periods of time. I don’t even like to sit in a window seat on a plane. I like the view but not the confined feeling, even for a short while.

 The NOVA program on PBS a while ago about building the James Webb Telescope was another “how do they do that?” moment. No astronaut lives were risked in that mission but the precision involved in its design is almost unbelievable. One tiny error and billions of dollars and untold hours of preparation and work would be lost. Whew!  I’m glad some people can handle pressure like that. Also, breath-taking and mind-boggling images sent back by this telescope and the Hubble Telescope before it give a whole new meaning to the phrase “out of this world”. These astounding images from space call to mind words from the old hymn “infinite thy vast domain”.

The Artemis II astronauts emphasized how in awe they were, looking at Earth from space, and the importance of taking care of our home planet. Another person who has spent his life trying to get this message across is no astronaut but the British broadcaster and national treasure Sir David Attenborough, who as of this writing is about to turn 100.

Though he may not be traveling to distant jungles or the Arctic any more, he can find lots of nature to observe right on his doorstep in England. Praise also goes to his many camera men and women over the years who have captured such fascinating images (though I always have to fast-forward past the scenes with snakes. We all have our limits.)

Along with the late Jane Goodall, who lived to be 91, Sir David’s long life shows that, unlike that grim old saying, the good do not necessarily die young. After his early years bringing films about exotic creatures to the general public, he has spent his later years devoted to sounding the alarm, through his always interesting nature programs, on the environmental dangers we are facing and the importance of preserving our home on Earth, including these thoughts:

“It seems to me that the natural world is the greatest source of excitement; the greatest source of visual beauty; the greatest source of intellectual interest. It is the greatest source of so much in life that makes life worth living.” 

“This is not about saving our planet, it's about saving ourselves".

 "We need to stop being apart from nature and learn, again, how to be a part of nature.”

Meanwhile, back at home, on our little patch of Earth, we do what we can for the environment. It can be as simple as enjoying all the birds and other interesting creatures that live in our town (I’m waiting for the hummingbirds to return), to simple acts like keeping our streets clean. Appreciation goes to everyone who filled those big red bags with roadside trash this past month. It would be a better world if people didn’t litter, but we are realists and we do what we can.